Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

According to all the meteorologists, today is going to be another scorcher. Fortunately, the air conditioner in my office has been doing a great job. But yesterday, when I tried to take my dog, Una, for her afternoon walk, she was dragging so much I cut it short and took her home.

After some months of serious shedding, she'd now down to her short summer coat. There's not much else she can do, besides pant and drink a lot of water. I figure it's safer to skip the afternoon walks for awhile.

As I write this, in late morning, the temperature is at least in the high 80s. I don't, however, think it's as bad as yesterday.

This is the sort of weather that would be perfect for a swim, but I don't know if it will be possible to do so this weekend.

Many years ago, when I was a student at Penn State, I never had air conditioning. Some of the classrooms were made tolerable by the AC, but others were like sitting in a freezer. It was during those days I developed the habit of bringing an extra shirt with me, just in case.

On the hottest days, we'd hang out where there was AC, like catching a matinee or going to the used book store or the coffee shop. So uncomfortable as it might be during dog walks, I have to count my blessings.

As everyone in the free world knows, last night President Bush announced his pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, John G. Roberts, who has been on the D.C. Circuit Court for a few years now. When he was announced, I tried to remember where I knew the name from, but I suppose I heard stories about him when he was confirmed to the circuit court. It also turns out he helped Bush make his case during the disputed 2000 election.

All I can say is, it could have worse. The president was reportedly considering people such as Judge Michael Luttig or Judge Edith Jones, each of whom is far more considerable and would have raised more warning alarms from Democrats and liberals alike.

Much has already been made about something Roberts wrote in a brief while serving as deputy counsel to the White House, where he wrote that Roe v. Wade was decided badly and should be overturned. But he has since stated that he should not be judged for things he argued on behalf of clients, in this case the government of the United States.

At the time of his circuit court confirmation, he said that there was nothing in his beliefs that would prevent him following the rule of the land, in this case the settled law of Roe v. Wade. Senators will no doubt question whether that will change as a Supreme Court justice, where he will have the option of reconsidering law.

By all accounts, Roberts is a great legal mind. He's argued 39 cases before the Supreme Court and is well respected by people on both sides of the aisle. While he is conservative, let's face it: no one expected Bush to choose a liberal. All we can ask is that he is knowledgeable about the law and is willing to consider each case on its own merits without forcing rulings into his personal ideology. That was, after all, what sunk Robert Bork.

Of course, hearings will not begin until Congress returns from its August recess, during which they will be conducting background research. So we don't know exactly what will happen, but barring any big surprises, it looks like Roberts will be sitting on the court when it convenes in October.

One person who benefits from the Supreme Court nomination stealing the headlines is Scott McClellan, the hapless White House press secretary who's been fending off questions about deputy chief of staff Karl Rove's role in the leaking of a CIA operative's name. But don't worry; there's plenty of time for that issue to resurface, after the independent counsel makes its ruling. Who knows? Karl Rove may face the heat once more.

Copyright 2005 by Alyce Wilson

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